Initiatives in French Midwest Heritage Collection (IF Midwest)

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Collection Overview

Title: Initiatives in French Midwest Heritage Collection (IF Midwest)

ID: OGLMC1519

Extent: 12.0 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 04/27/2007

Subjects: Ethnicity - French, Ethnicity - French-Canadian, Ethnicity - Metis, Native Americans

Languages: English, French

Abstract

Established in 2007 to document French history in the Midwest

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Initiatives in French Midwest Heritage Collection documents the history and heritage of the French, as well as French-Canadians, in the Midwest. The collection is comprised of materials from numerous donors.

Collection Historical Note

The Initiatives in French (IF) Midwest Heritage Collection was formally established 27 April 2007 on occasion of the first annual meeting of IF Midwest. This meeting took place on the campus of the University of North Dakota, at both the Chester Fritz Library and the International Centre.

Subject/Index Terms

Ethnicity - French
Ethnicity - French-Canadian
Ethnicity - Metis
Native Americans

Administrative Information

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Related Publications:

IFMidwest magazine. 2008-2010. Call number: E184.F8 I4

Numerous books, magazines and other publications were purchased through funds donated to IF Midwest. These have been cataloged and are searchable under the heading "Initiatives in French Midwest Heritage Collection (Chester Fritz Library)." They can also be viewed on ODIN.

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Initiatives in French Midwest Heritage Collection. OGLMC 1519, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid added to Archon in January 2013.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: IF Midwest Historical Documents, 2007-2010],
[Series 2: Chez Nous, Nouvelles Villes Jumelles, and Quebec Update, Donated by Dick Bernard, 1980-2001],
[Series 3: Family Heritage of the Emard and Boucher Families, Donated by Laura Munski],
[Series 4: DuBord Family Papers, Donated by Richard DuBord],
[Series 5: "A Volume of Treasures," Donated by Becky Leonard],
[Series 6: Sacred Heart Church of Oakwood, North Dakota, Donated by Mrs. Henry Bolek],
[Series 7: Boucher Family Documents, Donated by Merle Boucher],
[Series 8: French Language and French Music, Donated by Sylvia Paquin Steinart],
[Series 9: "Des Champ: From the Field," Donated by Leo Beauchamp],
[Series 10: Personal Journal and Article of Batoche Trek, Donated by Jim dale Huot-Vickery],
[Series 11: "Remembering Our Acadian Heritage," Donated by Virgil Benoit],
[Series 12: Marcil Family History, Donated by Wilmer Marcil],
[Series 13: "Beaulieu Remembered,” Donated by Ray and Rita Dunnigan],
[Series 14: “French Exile from Nova Scotia,” Donated by Kacie Richard],
[Series 15: Guibord Family Genealogy, Donated by Michael Martin],
[Series 16: Brunelle Family Genealogy, Donated by Jacqueline Keller],
[Series 17: Historical and Genealogical Materials of Rolette County, North Dakota, Donated by Marie Roberge],
[Series 18: Quilt made by Honorè Savard, Donated by Evelyn Landis, 1865],
[Series 19: "Bill Martin's Letter to His Grandchildren", January 24, 1993],
[Series 20: Casavant and Dionne Ancestry],
[Series 21: "As I Remember St. Paul of Tarsus' Parish"],
[Series 22: Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 125th Anniversary, 2007],
[Series 23: Notre Dame Academy Reunion, 2006],
[Series 24: "The Ancestry of Louis Elie Benoit and Rose Anna Chouinard"],
[Series 25: Pierriche by Louis Ritchotte],
[Series 26: Charlebois Family and Richard Family Materials, Donated by Carmen Richard],
[Series 27: "Walking in Our Time: The Family History of Flavien Croteau and Zelia Filteau of St. John, North Dakota"],
[Series 28: Father Joseph Goiffon Material],
[Series 29: Family Heritage of the Bernard, Blondeau, Collette, and Cote Families, Donated by Dick Bernard],
[Series 30: Dr. John Crawford Material, UND Department of English; Donated by Gwen Crawford],
[Series 31: John Rivard Archive, Donated by Jeanne Rivard],
[Series 32: Charles Morin Materials, Donated by Jerry and Julie King],
[All]

Series 3: Family Heritage of the Emard and Boucher Families, Donated by Laura Munski

The Emard and Boucher families both originated from France and immigrated to Canada and the United States. This collection chronicles the families, most specifically the Emards, through photographs, letters, and genealogy.

Family Heritage of the Emard and Boucher Families was a three ring binder put together by Therese Emard and Laura Munski to fulfill "a strong desire to preserve [their] family history." The contents were divided into nine folders based on individual chapters predetermined by Emard and Munski, and were kept in their original order. The contents begin with individual Emard and Boucher (pronounced Bushee) ancestry dating back to 1581, and are then connected through a separate index of marriages and resulting children. The collection follows the family to Red Lake Falls, Minnesota, and is more specifically directed towards Pierre Joseph Emard (1892 -1944), as most information and artifacts are supplied for him.

The majority of this collection is from Pierre Emard’s World War I experience, ranging from draft cards, exemption denials, letters home, medals and patches. Emard was unable to avoid the draft and was eventually sent to military bases in Iowa, Georgia, and New York before being sent to France in 1919.

Two binders, the first primary documents, the second transcriptions, document Emard’s journey through World War I. After the war, Emard married Ida May Boucher. Eight years later Ida May passed away. Pierre Emard had to raise his family alone and due to mustard gas in the war, received subsidiary checks from the government. The family lived off these until Emard’s death in 1944.

Joseph "Eddy" Emard (September 21, 1925 – March 20, 2001), Pierre Emard’s oldest son, is documented through photographs. After the death of Pierre Emard, Eddy took over supporting the family by working for the railroad.

Therese Marie (Emard) Thompson was a daughter of Pierre Emard, and sister of "Eddy" Emard, and also is documented through photographs. She kept and maintained the family’s records and passed them down to her daughter, Laura Munski.

To further specify genealogical ties found in Family Heritage of the Emard and Boucher Families, two published family histories, Our French Ancestry in Huron County 1631-1976, and Our French Canadian Ancestry 1631-1982, were included in the collection. The books document a number of families including the Denomme, Durand, Ducharme (relation to Emard), Masse, LaPorte, and Geoffroi.

An oversize folder was placed in the oversize file cabinets and contains a family photo of Pierre Emard (Pierre Joseph Emard’s father) with his siblings, as well as the 1976 Red Lake Falls centennial newspaper, The Gazette. The newspaper shares stories pertaining specifically to the Emard family, as well as additional history on Red Lake Falls.

George Thompson, brother to Laura Munski, put together seven different genealogical charts and each covers a section of the Emard or Boucher families. They are entitled, Descendants of Pierre Emard (3 copies), Descendants of Joseph Boucher, Ole Hovet, Descendants of Ida May Boucher, Ancestors of Pierre Emard, Descendants of George Thompson, and the last chart entitled Ancestors of George Bennet Thompson Jr. combines all the ancestry into one over-arching chart. The charts are bundled into six poster tubes placed adjacent to the collection on the shelves.

These materials were donated to Special Collections by Dr. Laura Munski, Grand Forks, North Dakota, in January 2007 (2007-2894) and January 2012 (2012-3150).

Box 1

Folder 32: Purpose
Folder 33: Emard Family (From: Family Heritage of the Emard and Boucher Families)
Folder 34: Boushee Family East Grand Forks (From: Family Heritage of the Emard and Boucher Families)
Folder 35: Marriages (From: Family Heritage of the Emard and Boucher Families)
Folder 36: East Grand Forks Courier, Fosston Newspaper, Crookston Times, Thirteen Towns, Grand Forks Herald 1890-1900. Crookston Times 1885-1887 (From: Family Heritage of the Emard and Boucher Families)
Folder 37: History of Red Lake Falls, Minnesota, Historical Context to the family (From: Family Heritage of the Emard and Boucher Families)
Folder 38: Our French Ancestry in Huron County 1631-1976 (From: Family Heritage of the Emard and Boucher Families)
Folder 39: Our French Canadian Ancestry 1631-1982 (From: Family Heritage of the Emard and Boucher Families)
Folder 40: Denomme and Emard Common Ancestry (From: Family Heritage of the Emard and Boucher Families)
Folder 41: Emard Family Photographs (From: Family Heritage of the Emard and Boucher Families)
Folder 42: Pierre Joseph Emard 1892-1944 World War I Experience
Folder 43: World War I Artifacts of Pierre Emard
Folder 44: Pierre Joseph Emard WWI medals and patches
Folder 45: Joseph "Eddy" Emard Family Photographs
Folder 46: Therese Emard Family Photographs
Folder 47: Our French Ancestry in Huron County 1631-1976 T.W. DENOMME
Folder 48: Our French Canadian Ancestry 1631-1982 T.W. DENOMME
Folder 49: Historical Atlas/Portion of Hay Township
Folder 50: Pierre Emard Family Photographs

Box 3

Folder 1: Emard Family Legal Documents, 1933-1954

Box 5

Folder 9: Binder: Pierre Emard: Contains newspaper clippings, documents related to his service in the First World War, and correspondence
Folder 10: Binder: "Joseph 'Eddy' Emard: September 21, 1925-March 20, 2001, Family Photographs"
Folder 11: Binder: Georgene Emard, Born September 16, 1923-November 21, 2008: Contains newspaper clippings, documents and photographs

Poster Tubes :

The poster tubes were placed adjacent to the collection on the shelves.

Poster Tube 1: Descendants of Pierre Emard (3 copies)
Poster Tube 2: Descendants of Joseph Boucher
Poster Tube 3: Ole Hovet
Poster Tube 4: Descendants of Ida May Boucher
Poster Tube 5: Ancestors of Pierre Emard
Poster Tube 6: Descendants of George Thompson and Ancestors of George Bennet Thompson Jr.

Oversize Folder 1: Family photograph of Pierre Emard (Pierre Joseph Emard’s father) with his siblings, as well as an original 1976 Red Lake Falls centennial newspaper, The Gazette. The newspaper shares stories pertaining specifically to the Emard family, as well as additional history on Red Lake Falls.

Department of Special Collections
Digital Finding Aids